James Dobson Colorado Springs, Colo.
Chairman of Focus on the Family, which he founded in 1977.
Résumé:
Associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Southern California School of Medicine. |
 Power/Influence:
Dobson’s daily Focus on the Family radio program, which promotes strong family values, is carried on more than 7,000 stations worldwide, and his TV show is reportedly seen on about 60 U.S. stations. A staunch conservative, Dobson is widely credited with getting out the Christian vote for Republicans in 2004 and was recently named the most influential evangelical leader in America by Christianity Today magazine.
Role in Campaign ’08:
Dobson dealt a devastating blow to Fred Thompson’s presidential aspirations last year when he said the former senator was not a Christian. He initially said he would not vote for McCain for president, voicing concerns about McCain’s conservative credentials, but appeared to change his mind in July. “I never thought I would hear myself saying this,” Dobson told his radio audience. “While I am not endorsing Senator John McCain, the possibility is there that I might.”
If Dobson sits out this election, that could spell big trouble for Republicans.
Who Knew: Dobson conducted a jailhouse interview with serial killer Ted Bundy in 1989, just hours before Bundy was executed. Bundy told Dobson he was driven to kill women because of his experiences with violent pornography.
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